Bandits attack Rini town in Zamfara, abduct many locals

Bandits have attacked Rini town in Bakura Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State.

Eyewitnesses on Friday stated that the armed men stormed the town at about 2:30am and started shooting sporadically.

While residents were said to have refused to come out of their homes despite heavy gunshots renting the air, the bandits abducted many locals numbering over 60.

Police authorities in Zamfara State have confirmed the incident although they did not give the actual number of residents kidnapped by the bandits.

But the command’s spokesman, Mohammed Shehu, said the police have deployed several tactical operatives in the town with a view to rescuing the abducted persons.

According to a source in the town, people are still in the town as of the time of the Jummat prayers and are not showing any sign that they would leave as a result of the attack.

He added that several appeals have been made to the government to provide more security reinforcement for the people of Rini.

The attack on Rini comes barely a week after bandits invaded the College of Agriculture and Animal Science, also in Bakura LGA.

During the attack with occurred at about 11pm on Sunday, the gunmen killed a policeman and two watchmen before they gained entry into the school.

State authorities later confirmed the abduction of 15 students and four staff of the institution who were forcefully taken away by the assailants.

Meanwhile, about three of the abducted persons – all staff of the institution – were rescued by security operatives who had combed the area.

The incident was condemned by the state governor, Bello Matawalle, who assured the families of the victims that they would return safely.

The bandits were said to have contacted the school management to make a demand of N350 million as ransom for the victims to be released.

The criminals later released a video in which the students were seen begging the government to heed the demand of their captors who threatened to kill them if the money was not paid.

Courtesy Channels TV